asked the Minister for Energy when (1) a system for giving early warning of dangerous rises in radiation levels and (2) an emergency plan with strategies for dealing with different possible nuclear accidents will come into operation; and the way in which this country is prepared to cope with an airborne discharge of radiation in the interim.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radiation Levels.
47.
Proposals for an early warning system and emergency plan of the kind referred to in the question are now being finalised and I will be putting my recommendations on this matter to the Government shortly. I expect the phasing in of the plan to commence early next year and a provision of £250,000 has been set aside for the purpose in the Estimates for 1988. I will announce details of the plan when it has been fully worked out and approved.
In the meantime interim procedures have been set up to receive early notification and details of any serious accident from abroad and to alert and bring together key personnel to assess the potential effects of such an accident. The object is to enable the Government and the public to be advised on measures to minimise the effects of radioactive contamination that might arise. These interim measures have involved the provision of extra office and laboratory facilities for the Nuclear Energy Board together with additional staff and equipment. The monitoring resources of the Civil Defence have also been improved and appropriate communications links have been established between all relevant public authorities, including the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Is there now in place a specific system for giving early warning of airborne radioactive releases on a daily or more frequent basis?
There is a system in operation which is linked through the system I have outlined. However, there is considerable room for improvement in this area and that is why the Government have taken the decision, despite the fact that it is necessary to examine in detail every expenditure proposal, to include £250,000 in the 1988 Estimates for the first phase of the operation of the emergency plan. That will involve the purchase and installation of sophisticated monitoring equipment to meet the concerns that are evident in this question.
Would the Minister agree that the present warning would take seven days and that it would be utterly useless to act upon such a warning? Would he further agree that no extra equipment would be needed to provide an immediate warning system?
I agree with the Deputy. The situation I inherited relating to emergency procedures in the case of potential nuclear accidents was less than satisfactory and I have been striving to improve that situation. It will be improved even further with the extra funds the Government have given to me for 1988. I agree with the Deputy that I inherited a most unsatisfactory situation.
Instead of politicking with this issue, would the Minister answer the specific question?
Who is politicking with it? Michael Smurfit gave the answer as to who was politicking, right between the eyes.
Is it true that the present warning system would take seven days to give a result? Is it true that extra equipment over and above that which is available would not be needed to provide an immediate early warning system?
It is not true that we would need seven days. We are linked to the International Atomic Energy Agency which is the body co-ordinating emergencies such as transboundary pollution arising from an accident. We have a connection to them through the Garda communications centre and I assure the Deputy and the country that the present situation, defective as it is, is at least an improvement on what existed previously. It is our intention to use the most sophisticated monitoring equipment which will give us instant monitoring. This will be done in the coming 12 months.
Does this mean that in the case of an airborne release from Sellafield, for example, we would be dependent on the British authorities or some other authorities for information about such a release?
No. We have some monitoring equipment. Civil Defence have extra monitoring equipment, but I am not satisfied that it is sufficient and I want to improve it. For that reason I got the extra money in the Estimates for next year. I am in a position to buy extra monitoring equipment.
Is it for the bunker in Athlone?